Flying

PLANETARIUM CEILINGS, gold-plated bidets and Louis XIV interiors may have fallen out of fashion for new Boeing Business Jets in this economy, but you can sum up the latest version of this private uber barge in one word: more.

ALL TRANSPORTATION METHODS INVOLVE some risk, but corporate/executive business jets enjoy a stellar safety record, with only one fatal accident since 2007. That's according to statistics on U.S.-registered aircraft from Robert E. Breiling Associates, an aviation-safety research firm.

One of the big advantages bizav has over airline travel is your ability to get more done by hitting multiple stops in a single day. Now, thanks to in-flight Internet services such as Aircell's GoGo Biz, Inmarsat's SwiftBroadband and ViaSat's Yonder Broadband, you can do more on the way, too.

Options at the low end of the charter market-single-engine turbine and piston aircraft as well as VLJs (very light jets)-are expanding. That's good news if you've been priced out of larger jets, want to upgrade an automobile or airline trip without busting the bank or are looking to save money on short flights or when traveling without a large group.

From the dictionary: "intangible:...that which cannot be easily defined, formulated or grasped." When it comes to assessing much of the value in flying privately, that term is dead on. True, there are software programs like Travel$ense from the National Business Aviation Association that can help make a strong financial case for business aviation.

Embraer entered the light jet market in 2005, promising more for less, and the $8.14 million Phenom 300 delivers. It's fast, has long legs and sports a well-equipped, comfortable cabin with an array of options typically found only in airplanes costing millions more. The Phenom 300 was certified late last year.

You've analyzed numerous variables, including where, when and how often you fly. You've determined that a fractional share makes sense for you and figured out which aircraft model best suits your needs. You've even picked a fractional provider. Time to call the company, sign the paperwork and break out the margaritas?

Say for a moment that you own an aircraft rather than simply fly on those you charter. Given the direct operating costs and all the other expenses of ownership, how much would you charge a stranger to use your airplane?

How would you respond to an in-flight emergency? If your answer involves seeking help from flight attendants, that's not surprising. Passengers typically consider them to be the cabin safety go-to people.